Kingston Artists' Showcase

My art is about being yourself, however that looks. It’s about finding value in everything. Nothing makes me happier than spending a Sunday afternoon glueing glitter to trash. I love making goofy art out of found items or painting fever dreams. Irreverence, individuality and silliness are my biggest influences in art and life. I have dreamed of a place to be unashamedly myself and I have created that in my art.

I am an oil painter. I have been nestled away chasing every opportunity to hone my skills as an artist. I adore painting from nature, and the animals here on our little homestead. I flourish when I prioritize time to create my artwork, and I strive to depict to my viewers the sweet, slow and whimsical life I am fortunate enough to lead.

My art is inspired by my own journey of healing and evolution as a human being. Finding beauty in connecting with my ancestry, my roots, those who came before me. An honouring of all of this, that is where medicine for the soul lies. Painting has been such a healing outlet for me. This canvas came to fruition as I was deeply reflecting on culture and how our ancestral roots are so deeply intertwined in our beings. Those family trees are woven into our hands, our ancestors further back who worked with the land - elements of them in your hair, and the women...the mothers...how so much is passed along in our wombs, along to the sweet babes, that we all once were. The glow in the womb reminds me of the magic and potency our wombs hold.

Instagram: @naturalartn

Never one to be pigeonholed or pinned down, this multimedia artist taps into diverse mediums, styles, and artistic expression resulting in whimsical, contemplative, edgy, and fun creative works. 2024 saw her work featured at Upper Canada Village, KP Tours, Visual Artists of Gananoque & Area, and O'Connor Gallery West.

Anne’s approach to any new piece always starts the same … “I wonder what would happen if ….” and this has led her to sewing embroidery thread into photos, creating multi-dimensional art pieces using Barbie clothes, creating dynamic collages and much more. She continues to surprise herself with fun, funky, thoughtful, and powerful new works.

Since retiring from careers in Commercial Insurance, Arts Administration, and Special Ed, Anne says without hesitation that she’s now living her best life as an artist.

When not making art, she loves spending time as a classroom volunteer and board member of H’art – a nationally recognized not for profit arts organization that provides creative opportunities for developmentally challenged adults to participate in creative pursuits.

Website: www.annefinlay.ca

I have been an artist all my life. As a child, I filled doodle pads with princesses. I am now 65 years old & have a very large portfolio of artwork produced over the years. I have lived in Kingston for 37 years. In 2015 at the age of 45, I had a cerebral aneurysm and brain surgery. I now have some permanent deficiencies in short term memory, concentration, reading and organization. I have continued to maintain and develop my artistic practice.

Website: www.arlenecassidy.ca

Originally from Windsor, I moved to Kingston to marry my sweetheart. I'm a photographer who has worked on lake freighters, then as a banker, then computer programmer. My wife and I then ran a roadside motel for 30 years. Now retired - and back taking pictures again.

Cornelia Rose is a visionary artist and body painter based in Kingston, Ontario. Growing up on a farm in Switzerland, she developed a deep love for the earth, finding profound connection in working with the soil and the natural world.

Holding a BA in Psychology and Visual Arts, Cornelia aspires to merge these disciplines — using art as a therapeutic medium to explore themes of nature, human psychology, and our spiritual interconnectedness.

Her paintings have become a personal narrative, chronicling her journey of healing and transformation through creativity. In her mystical works, Cornelia blends figurative imagery with psychedelic language, inviting viewers on a visual journey to experience the world through new, awakened eyes.

Website: www.corneliaroseart.com

Caroline Kwok (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Kingston, Ontario who specializes in realism illustration, often centering on colourful, nature-inspired drawings. With a background in music and graphic design, Caroline also combines her multidisciplinary interests through digital designs and illustrations. Since March of 2020, Caroline has been avidly developing the visual aspects of her artistic practice, producing personalized works, and showcasing her favourite pieces in local galleries and art festivals in hopes of sharing the sense of joyous wonder she feels with a pencil in hand.

I'm 17 years old and have been making art as long as I can remember. I recently moved to Kingston from my hometown in Brandon, Manitoba. Protest art is a great way to convey an important message. Don't be ignorant.

Carolina Rojas was born in Santiago, Chile, where she earned a Fashion Design Diploma. In 1992, soon after graduating, she moved to Canada where she continued to pursue her studies at Sheridan College. Carolina had always been interested in the arts; however it wasn't until 2013 that she discovered photography, her true calling. Carolina has worked for Snapd Kingston. She is a skilled photographer who has won the Botany Certificate for the CAPA Club Nature Competition in 2016 and has exhibited her work at several galleries including Gallery Raymond, Unit 115 at the Tett Centre, Martello Alley, Window Gallery, and at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. In addition, her image, "Morning Dew" was selected to be a part of The City of Kingston's new project, Paved Paradise in 2018. Most recently, Carolina received first place in the Ian Walsh Photo Contest 2018.

Denise began her journey into the art of rug hooking in 2020. Stumbling upon the medium early in the pandemic.

Sketching and working on her own designs offered a creative outlet she really yearned for at the time. The process of hooking rugs as pieces of art brought her hours of peace and healing.

Since the beginning of 2024 her work has been shown and sold at Pedal Works Café and Studio in Kingston, at the Kingston Women’s Art Festival, at Gather in the County Modern Textile Market and at the Kingston Holiday Market at the Tett Centre.

Don Rogers' interest in photographic imagery goes back to his high school days of film and the darkroom. He currently enjoys the scope and challenge of digital imagery as a creative medium. His camera catches the often-overlooked small details within larger objects. Don is a past president of the Kingston Photographic Club.

By using oil on canvas and inspired by nature and emotions, Erinn De Crescenzo aims to create artwork that pairs those two elements and highlights their combined beauty. Art has always been a part of her life, from childhood drawings to her Fine Arts studies at UWO. Life took her on a bit of a detour after school, but it was seeing her young daughter pick up a paintbrush in 2023 that brought Erinn back to her easel. Now, in a tiny basement studio they share, she’s rediscovering her love for creating and developing her skills. She is honoured to share her work with her Kingston community.

Website: www.artbyerinn.com

Gil Segev (he/him) is an Israeli Canadian queer Jewish artist, activist, and attorney in training. Born in Haifa in 1997, Gil and his family immigrated to Canada in 2005. His parents encouraged his artistic endeavors from an early age, enrolling him in art classes, dance and piano lessons, and musical theatre summer camps. Gil’s mom taught him to cross stitch, and he hasn’t stopped since.

Gil holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University. Presently he is a Juris Doctor candidate at Queen’s University. Gil is a member of the Toronto Guild of Stitchery and has exhibited his cross-stitch work in the Toronto Public Library, the Kingston School of Art, the Neilson Park Creative Centre, the Trellis Queer Art Show, and the Markham Fair, as well as designing his own patterns and teaching workshops for all ages. He is also known for his Drag Queen character, the award-winning Gila Munster.

Joanne Gervais' artwork ranges from classical to contemporary abstraction. She is well known for her sensitive portraiture, most of which are created live at special events. Other famed works include her charming Joie De Vivre French Canadian brightly coloured oils depicting children at play with adults still young at heart.

Joanne has had many varied experiences in her life which all culminated in 1994 when she decided to focus on a fine art career. The previous years of education, training, and work in the Fine Crafts which included textiles, pottery, metalsmithing, silkscreen and graphic arts, fashion design. In addition, she studied laboratory science, physical education and anatomy, and received Teacher Certification in the Vocational arts.

Joanne has trained in the all-important life drawing ateliers for over 40 years. Working with the live model for so long helped solidify her artistic skills and encouraged experimentation in both media and style. It added an organic and free flowing style to her portraits as well as her non-figurative works including the cityscapes landmarks series. Joanne is known for her audacity in tackling new and diverse subjects, her impressive live sketching at music festivals, court trials, conferences, summits, etc., her gentle touch with a portrait, and her bravado when creating an abstract work.

Website: www.joannegervais.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joanne.gervais.90
Instagram: @joannegervais2018

I have always had a passion for unique and unusual art pieces. I am always happy when working in my Garudio (garage + studio) and welcome custom creations, ideas or commissioned pieces. I especially appreciate music (as we are a musical family) and would love to create a special, multimedia, glass and wire art piece to keep your special memories alive and viewable. A couple of examples and remain to be the most popular would be my guitars, 3 dimensional waterfalls, birds on a wire and the Goddess series of beautiful women.

Website: www.peerfectionart.com

In 2020 during the COVID lockdown I decided to pass the time by drawing, something that I had not done in about 50 years. Since I am now retired, I thought that it would be a good hobby. As a young teen, I had done some drawing but never pursued it as career and family occupied my time and energy. Since I enjoy spending as much time as possible now in the outdoors my subjects are usually wildlife including birds and mammals. I have also used my pets as subjects. I have mostly been self-taught but a few courses at the Senior Centre have also helped.

My art style is photorealism, and my favourite medium is coloured pencil. These two are very complementary as photorealism demands acute attention to detail and the pencils allow me to develop the details (layer by layer) that are necessary. Patience is a virtue as most of the pieces take 40-50 hours to complete. I usually spend 1.5 to 2 hours per day working on a piece.

The Kingston Hidden Artist Collective (KHAC) is dedicated to uncovering, empowering, and celebrating the often-overlooked creative voices within our community. Our intent is to provide a platform for artists facing significant barriers—whether due to housing instability, mental health challenges, or systemic marginalization—to express themselves, connect with others, and generate sustainable income through their art. We believe that art is a powerful tool for personal and social transformation. By offering support, resources, and opportunities for artistic growth, KHAC aims to dismantle the obstacles that prevent talented individuals from sharing their work with the world. We strive to foster an inclusive and vibrant arts community where every artist's voice is heard, valued, and uplifted. Our commitment is to create a space where creativity thrives, connections are forged, and art becomes a bridge that unites and strengthens our community.

Website: www.khac.ca

I am a local face and body painter. I have been painting and drawing since childhood. I do charcoal portraits and love to paint with watercolor. Art runs through my veins. I love to create and look forward to my future projects. I have loved being a part of the local Kingston art scene for 20+ years Buskers, Fan Fayr and Art fest have been my favourite local festivals but working for Queens and The Frontenacs is always fun.

Instagram: @LeslieWandell

I have been creating all my life, from doll clothes at age 7 to adult clothing, original crewel designs to polymer clay jewelry with wire work. During my years at Domino Theatre, I would keep odd cuts of wood that were destined for the trash and turn them into "funky" flower boxes first sold at the Women's Art Festival in 2006. 1I expanded into tables. lidded boxes and Bird flower boxes. They are all made with pine boards, cut on the band saw, decoratively painted and reattached with wood glue and screw and urethaned. I take art classes regularly at the Seniors Centre and KSOA and volunteer in Kingston at KCAK (Kingston Community Arts and Design) where I sell - mostly art dolls. The shop sells only handmade artisan goods. The art dolls are my latest creations. They are incredibly joyful to make, taking handkerchiefs, scrap pieces, old and new fabrics and making a unique item with a happy hopeful attitude. Art is as vital to me as breathing and anything I can do to support the arts is my happy place.

I am 82 years old and have been doing the "quilling pictures" for a couple of years and have incorporated quilling in my greeting cards. I thoroughly enjoy doing this which keeps me busy during my senior years.

Our creative collaboration was born out of a love for the modern world, while holding a deep understanding of our need for nature in our everyday lives. Lovehood is a celebration of having both. Through our use of impactful natural materials, ancient felt making techniques and an intention to enliven space, our botanical artworks often begin as a love letter. Our focus on wool in design, especially our living architectures, allows us to deliver abstract fine art while fostering new connections to the natural world.

Our breakout piece LAKE BLUE for Design Toronto was an homage to Lake Ontario and proved that people were open and excited to embrace wool as fine art. It was awarded several accolades (Yabu Pushelberg) including Best in Festival.

As our work expands, we are eager to be a part of the growing dialogue around medicinal plants and the quality of colour. We imagine creating pieces for individuals, schools, hospitals, urban environments, museums and the likes, blending an ancient art form with a modern vision.

Nikoo Aghaei is an Iranian-Canadian artist, raised in Toronto and now living in Kingston studying medicine. She began exploring art as a child and continued expanding her skills throughout school. Her artistic interests revolve around combining eastern and western influences through various media such as collage, watercolour, and digital art, with motifs of women empowerment, botanicals, and technology. In her free time, she listens to Japanese citypop music and plays volleyball.

Patti Groome is an abstract artist who relies on both the intuitive and analytic sides of her personality to explore her aesthetic and her inner self. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. She worked as a graphic designer before obtaining her PhD in Epidemiology and becoming a tenured professor at Queen's University.

Upon retirement in 2021, Patti has been able to devote her energy to her art practice. Her work is informed by a lifetime spent looking at, thinking about, and sometimes producing, art. Patti works primarily with acrylic paint and non-traditional tools in an additive-subtractive process. She especially enjoys creating multi-layered, textured images that the viewer can explore.
Website: www.pattigroomeart.ca
Instagram: @pattigroome_art

Rodney Watson is a self-taught artist and with some of the art he stumbles across it by accident. Rodney is an award winning and accomplished artist of many mediums. His artwork consists of acrylic paintings, colour pencil pet portraits, watercolour paintings, scribble pen art, sidewalk chalk art, urban sketching and he is a and professional sand sculptor. Rodney’s art has reached clients from around the world from across Canada and the United States to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany, Scotland, and Spain. Rodney attention to detail can be seen not only in his drawings and paintings, but also his sand sculpting.

Sandra is an artist with a rich academic background. Born in Argentina, she holds a medical degree and a bachelor’s in art history. With over 20 years in the art world, Sandra has worked as a researcher, professor, and curator. She moved to Kingston nine years ago, becoming active in the local art community by educating at the Fraternity Spanish Association and contributing to the KHSC Art Committee.

Her passion for stained glass developed after discovering the Glass House and under the guidance of Yolanda Pruner she became a full-time glass artist. Inspired by the history of stained-glass cathedrals, she admires the rich colors and textures of the glass, finding joy in the way light transforms it and the sense of transparency it conveys. Her aim for her art is to promote healing and well-being. She embraces diversity in both art and life, believing that exploration and lived experiences shape our world.

Website: www.bluecreationsglass.ca

Scott Carson is a retired professor from Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. In Scott’s eclectic career, he has been an executive in corporate banking, head of an Ontario government secretariat, and dean of two Canadian business schools. Scott’s academic background started with a commerce degree from Mount Allison University but thereafter continued in philosophy of education with graduate degrees from Dalhousie University and the University of London, UK. Now retired, Scott lives in Kingston with his wife Mim and their English Springer Spaniel, named Tilly.

Born in Etobicoke on 11/20/82 and having resided in Kingston for just over 20 years. I love applying my visions onto canvas whether being imagery or abstract concepts. I enjoy being able to express myself through the use of an array of colours and techniques. I am following my childhood passion for expression after the conclusion of my nursing career. I am excited to move towards new opportunities and methods of expression in the world of artistry.